Nepal FA chief steps aside during FIFA ethics case

ZURICH (AP) FIFA says the president of Nepal's football association has stepped aside from football duty while under investigation for financial wrongdoing.

Ganesh Thapa ''agreed not to participate in any football-related activity'' for 120 days while FIFA's ethics committee studies misconduct claims against Nepal football officials.

A Nepalese parliamentary committee accused Thapa in September of embezzling around $6 million during his 19-year leadership of the football body. Other football officials then asked FIFA's ethics court to act.

The temporary suspension should not affect Thapa's membership of FIFA's Under-20 World Cup committee which is next scheduled to meet in June in New Zealand.

Thapa is an Asian Football Confederation vice president and onetime ally of its former leader Mohamed bin Hammam, who was expelled from football for financial wrongdoing.